Attachment for fuel tanks



M 1932 J. M. LOPEZ 1,843,534

ATTACHMENT FOR FUEL TANKS 'Filed May 16, 1930 Patented Mar. 8, 193-2 UNETED STATES JESTITS M. LQIPEZ, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ATTACHMENT FOR FUEL TANKS Application filed May 16, 1930. Serial No. 453,021.

This invention aims to provide a simple means whereby the operator of an internal combustion engine may be notified when the supply of fuel is running low, it being pose sible to run the engine for a limited length of time after the fuel in the tank has approached depletion.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utilvity of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows in elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, the fuel tank being in section; Figure 2 is an elevation of the vent head; and Figure 3 section through the vent head.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be employed wherever an internal combustion engine is used, but for the sake of illustration, it will be supposed that the structure is to be employed in connection with an automobile.

he numeral 1, therefore, indicates the instrument board of a motor-propelled vehicle, the fuel supply tank appearing at 2. The carburetor for the internal combustion engine is marked by the numeral 3. A conduit 4 leads from the fuel supply tank 2 to the carburetor 3.

The conduit 4 is a composite structure, and may be made in any desired way, depending upon the choice of materials which the manufacturer has to make. As shown in the drawings, but not of necessity, the conduit l embodies an elbow 5, one arm of which is mounted in the bottom of the fuel supply tank 2. The other arm of the elbow 5 is connected to one side of a sediment bulb 6. The numeral 7 marks a double elbow, one end of which is connected to the opposite side of the sediment bulb 6. The opposite end of the double elbow 7 is connected to the horizontal portion 8 of a depending pipe 9 having a horizontal part 10 which is in com- 5 munication with the carburetor 3. The vertical portion of the double elbow 7, the horizontal part 8 of the pipe 9, and the upper part of the part 9 formaninverted U-shaped trap which extends upwardly to a point highso or than the bottom of the fuel supply tank 2, so as to permit a quantity 11 of the fuel to remain in the tank 2 when the fuel has been depleted enough so that air is sucked through a vent pipe 12, now to be described. 05 One end of the vent pipe 12 is connected to the vertical part of the double elbow 10, on the upper end thereof. The pipe 12 may have an upwardly extended end 14 connected to a hollow head 15 provided on its forward side with a conical socket 16 which receives the head of a screw 17 or other securing element whereby the head 15 is held on the instrument board 1. On its upper side, the socket 16 has a thickened portion or boss 18 located within the hollow head 15. Through the boss or thickened portion 18 extends a normally open port 19, one end of which opens into the atmosphere through the conical socket 16, the opposite end of the port '19 being in communication with the interior of the head 15.

In practical operation, the fuel passes from the tank 2 to the carburetor3 until the fuel arrives at the level shown at 11, and, then, the air can enter through the port 19, the head 15, and the tube 12, the supply of fuel to the carburetor 8 ceasing. Internal combustion engines, by well-known characteristic sounds, will indicate to the driver of the vehicle that the supply of fuel is playing out. The operator, then, can put his thumb or finger on the port 19, closing the port, and rendering the residual supply of fuel shown at 11 responsive to the suction of the engine, the engine thus being permitted to operate for a limited period of time, until a fuel station can be reached. The conical socket 16 exercises two functions. First, it aids in guiding the thumb or finger of the operator to the port 19 when it is desired to close the port, in the way hereinbefore described, a feature of peculiar utility in the night-time, or when the supply of light is limited, it being unnecessary to feel about for the port 19, in order to close it. A second function of the conical socket 16 isthat it forms a seat for I the head of the screw 17 or other securing device which holds the hollow head 15 on the instrument board 1. v I I Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination, a carburetor, a fuel tank connected thereto for gravity feed of fuel,- the connection comprising a conduit connected to the lower portion of said tank and having a, part extending-above the point ofconnection, said-part having a vent including a hollow head provided with a depressed 20 socket, there being a port in the head, one end of the port openingwithin the socket, and the other end-'of'the port opening within the head, the port being so shaped as to be closed by a part of-thehand of an operator, and the socket constituting means for direct- 'ing the said part'of the hand of an operator to the port. p i 4 2. In "combination, a carburetor, a fuel tank connected thereto for gravity feed of fuel, theconnectioncomprising a conduit convnected to thelower portion of said tank and having ajpart'extending above the point of connection, said part having a vent including ahollow head providedwith a depressed socke .et,jthere being a normally openedport in the --head, '0ne end of the port communicating with the atmosphere within the socket, and the other end of the port being in communication with the. interior-offthe head, theport 40 being'so shapedas to be: closed by a part of- I the hand of an operator, the socket constituting means for guiding the said, part of the i hand of an operator tothefport, and afsecuring device'holding the head in place, the securing devicehaving an enlarged head seated in the socket. g 1 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, Ihave hereto aifixed'my signature. JESUS M. LCFPEZ. 

